Transcript from “Talk to Gaza” webinar, 23rd May 2026
The following transcript was taken from the latest “Talk to Gaza” event held on 23rd May 2026
Download: PDF Transcript (639 KB)
A comment from the chat during the meeting: “Can I just say, as someone who has worked for four decades (in the safety of a London NGO) with victims and survivors from wars all over the world, and having colleagues who worked under apartheid in South Africa, and under military dictatorships in Latin America, that what you guys are doing in Gaza is a fantastic job. You are an inspiration to all of s doing this sort of work all over the world. I hope you can feel some sense of being part of a global struggle and not feel too isolated”.
Notes of Talk to Gaza Zoom meeting held on 23rd May 2026
The night before, bombs hit Nuseirat and Al Bureij near the trauma centre and the homes of our team This photo was taken by one of them. At midnight, hundreds of people were given five minutes to evacuate. Every day, drones attack or bombs fall, targeting houses. People are shot by automatic weapons in the street.
Dr Omar: There are 2 million people living in 40% of Gaza because 60% of the land is under israeli occupation. They control this area 'by fire' and it is called 'the orange area'.
Yehia: I tried swimming in Northern Gaza but even this is very risky – some shooting happened - there is no safe place in Gaza, with bombardments happening most of the time. There is no ceasefire, they are still destroying and killing, to keep Gazans afraid. It is difficult to deliver work – I have been working in a displaced people's camp where most people have lost their houses and some relatives. It is not easy to increase their hope when they have been suffering for nearly 3 years.
Alaa: There is not time to recover – it seems we are always under threat. We try to help families, but we are also under pressure and stress. Gaza is not safe for anybody.
David: Do you still need the support sessions on Saturdays?
Dr Omar: Yes, they are very important because people are forgetting and becoming busy with other issues.
David: Are you aware of the recent Gaza Flotilla? Do you know about people on this being taken into prisons and tortured?
Dr Omar: Yes. All the world are watching but no-one does anything, so Israelis are free to carry on as they please.
Manar: We are hoping the situation will become better in Gaza but there is escalation – we have been sent back again to war and everyone is afraid.
Samar: We are in the same situation as before – we suffer every day, like all the people we treat. I work doing support sessions and people are asking for more of these.
David: Regarding the children, how are the sports sessions going?
Mahmoud: We are trying to do our best to help the children, to give space for psychological support, which is very important for children People are living in shelters and there is no space for play so it is very important for them to develop their emotions. Sport counselling is a major project in Days of Joy.
Ahmed: Fedaa, the story-teller in Days of Joy, has returned to us from Egypt. He was very happy to see us. He lost his wife, son and daughter last year and was in a coma for several months. Egypt is not a very friendly place. He is better off in Gaza amongst friends and colleagues. He still has memory difficulties, but is joining in with Days of Joy activities to enable further recovery for him.
David: We send our best wishes and please tell him that we are always ready to help him.
Ahmed G.: Everyone is doing their best serving the people despite the situation, which is very hard. We are supporting amputees as well.
David: I hope the school is still operating and that your family are well.
Feizal Parouty: We are working with children and particularly helping with one amputee child, who is becoming very happy.
Mahmoud: We are helping Fedaa to recover and making some activities for children in hospitals, which is very useful. We saw happiness and joy in their faces, especially in response to the clowns. We want to visit other hospitals. We are still working on Days of Joy once a week. It is not enough of course but this is all we can manage. There are 200 – 300 children at each session. We want to go to the south of Gaza but there is no transport, so this is not possible.
Dr Yehya: Despite the situation in Gaza, the team gathers strength from your support We see the protests and these are very important to us. Thank you.
Rasha: Everyone is suffering from insect bites, probably caused by poor hygiene and the rubble and garbage strewn around. We can't get medicine for this; it is very difficult to find drugs here. It is probably for the international organisations to provide medications, but closure of the border makes it very difficult. Also, there are big rats, as well as mosquitos, especially in the shelters. They are new typesof rat, very aggressive and dangerous.
Dr Omar: There have been no diseases from the rats up to now. We have no way of fighting them. They attack small children. There is no medication for heart disease or diabetes. There is no fresh water, only the small amounts sent in from the border.
Dinny: You in Gaza are grateful for our solidarity, but we are grateful for your inspiration.
Jane: I have just seen the film 'Phoenix of Gaza' (Yousef al-Helou) , made 2 or 3 months before the 7thOctober 2023 event. This film reminds us what an amazing, vibrant place Gaza City was.
Ahmed G.: I am so happy to see you all. There has recently been a 'Bereavement and loss' course for audiences in many countries that have suffered war. We must publish our knowledge and share our experiences to make those in the West listen.
Mohamed A.: While we have had this meeting there has been an attack in Gaza – many people have lost their homes.
Nabila: I can report back to my groups in the UK and there will be a ripple effect, keeping Palestinian culture alive.
Gwyn D.: I have been thinking about my emotions while we have been gathered together – and the two main ones I have experienced are:
LOVE – We feel so close to you while listening to your descriptions of the way it is in Gaza for you - although we cannot know the depth of suffering you have to go through – and
SHAME – At what our government and others are allowing Israel to get away with. We must keep acting to ensure Gaza is at the forefront of people's awareness.
Martin and Eliana: We have just had local elections here. Where we live in London people on the doorsteps were talking about Gaza and our local constituency has changed from Labour to Green although this is not reflected in public policy. We feel deeply held rage regarding the situation in Gaza.
Ruth L.: Our hearts are with you. There were 200,000 people on the march for the Nakba last weekend. One person spoke very articulately on the podium about what you have spoken about today. The movement is growing and it is less and less easy for people to turn away from this.
Robert E.: It has been an inspiration to hear about the detail of the work you are doing. You are leading and teaching us. We are so grateful to hear about this work and we look forward to hearing more.
Ahmed G.: The founder of the Literary Centre in Nuseirat Camp can see the creativity of PTC and their wonderful activities. We are very pleased we have this co-operation together. Thank you for keeping this great work going.
David: It is a family link – a powerful link and a powerful meeting.
Gwyn: Please send a message to the children about how much we care about them and their futures.
David: We must have another Talk to Gaza session soon. Both sides benefit from the contact. This has been an extraordinary meeting, with such a good emotional connection.
If you are able to help us in this regard, please consider donating towards our emergency appeal.
Palestine Trauma Centre (UK) is a UK based charity that works to provide adults and children living within the Gaza strip with access to psychological support and mental health services.
Funds donated to our emergency appeal will be used to provide direct relief to the population of the Gaza strip, to support the reconstruction and restoration of our services within the Gaza strip or to provide staff training and remuneration to our team on the ground in Gaza.
Palestine Trauma Centre (UK) is a registered UK charity (1133560) with the Charities Commission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
